Theory you really SHOULD know..

[Ibanezer_hi]

Its been bothering me for a while i guess i just keep putting it off,but what is it every guitarist really should know if they want to be like a pro ?

I guess i can work it out so heres what i reckon i need to learn..

1. All the notes on the fretboard..

2.All common chord shapes and how to construct/identify one

3.major/minor pentatonic scales/positions all over the neck and modal notes within them i.e.phyrgian would fit inside the minor pentatonic(i think!)etc
in otherwords all the modes too..

4.the circle of fiths(whatever that is..i still dont know)

I'm sure theres other stuff...please add if you can think of anything..

[luvuvibanez]

All of the Major and minor key signatures and the modes.

[V-type]

Yeah, I think modes can really expand your sound.

[mi2tom]

Originally Posted by Ibanezer_hi

4.the circle of fiths(whatever that is..i still dont know)

The circle of fifths C to G is a perfect 5th G to D another perfect 5th, D to A another perfect 5th, A to E another perfect 5th, E to B another perfect 5th, B to F# is another perfect 5th, F# to C# another perfect fifth.

C-G-D-A-E-B-F#-C#

But if you move backwards it's circle in fourth

C#-F#-B-E-A-D-G-C

[werx]

You should beable to construct chord progressions that cycle through the circle of fifths. If you can't, your understanding of music and your songwriting skills will be far worse than someone that can. I also think most guitarists attempting to be professional should beable to understand 16th and 18th century counterpoint (maybe not if you're strictly a blues player). Too many guitarists out there claiming to be "neoclassical" without having an idea of how classical music is composed or even how it functions.

[warhead-az]

How is the circle of 5th actually applied in music/soloing? Does it have to do with key changes?

[Andelusion]

I use the circle of 5ths (or used) to remember what accidentals are in the Major keys.

Start with C Major: CDEFGAB (no sharps)

Count up to the 5th note (G).
Count up to the 4th note (F)

Sharpen the 4th note (F becomes F#)
Write the scale out again, starting from G, with the new F#

GABCDEF# You've now constructed a G Major scale, YAY!

Continue along, so count up to the 5th note of G (D), count up the 4th note (C) sharpen the 4th note (C to C#) carry over the previous accidental from G Major (F#) so now you know the notes in D Major are:

DEF#GABC#.

Continue For Major scales with flats, instead of counting up to the 5th note for the next scale, count up to the 4th (So F), instead of counting up to the 4th for the next accidental, count up to the 7th, then flatten it (B becomes Bb)

So we have F Major: FGABbCDE, which is the first Major scale with 1 flat, carry on up the process and you'll eventually get all of the major scales with all the flats, if you write all of these out you'll eventually know what accidentals/notes comprise all major scales in all keys.

If you do this enough you'll eventually just know them off by heart.

The circle of 5ths has also been used as a general modulation in many pieces, especially from the classical period. The guitar solo in Deep Purple's 'Burn' goes through a cycle of 5ths.

Too much typing, hands hurt!